This is an important opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to win all 3 points, thereby continuing to nurture the hope of winning tickets to the final round.
After a 0-4 defeat to Malaysia in June, the Vietnam team temporarily dropped to second place in Group F. However, the group situation suddenly changed when the World Football Federation (FIFA) investigated the illegal naturalization of a series of Malaysian players. If they are found to have violated, Malaysia could be held at a disadvantage or even eliminated from the tournament, opening up a great opportunity for Vietnam.
However, coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed that the team is not interested in the sidelines. We are only focused on the upcoming match. No matter how FIFA makes the decision, Vietnam's mission is still to win against Nepal, the Korean strategist emphasized at a press conference on October 8.
Nepal is currently at the bottom of the table with 2 losses and has only scored 1 goal. Their squad has many players playing abroad, notably veteran goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong and striker Anjan Bista - the best striker in the team. However, the difference in qualifications is still very clear when Nepal is ranked 176th in the world, 62 places behind Vietnam.
Playing at home with a team in stable form, the Vietnamese team is expected to win convincingly. In addition to familiar faces such as Hoang Duc, Duy Manh or Tien Linh, coach Kim Sang-sik can also give opportunities to young players such as Thanh Nhan, Hieu Minh and Xuan Bac.
A favorable result against Nepal not only helps Vietnam strengthen their spirit, but also opens the door to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.
Score prediction: Vietnam 2 - 0 Nepal
